The Thrill

This past Wednesday we went to go see BB King at Johnny Mercer Theatre downtown. We waivered about going to see him since we're only occasional blues/jazz listeners, but in the end I am really glad that we went. We do not have much of a music scene in Savannah, so when opportunity knocks, we have to get to these events. I don't know much about BB, except that he is from Mississippi, he's 85 years old, and he's one of the best guitarists of our time. The concert was not a 'knock your socks off' kind of event, but as you sit there in front of this legend, clearly doing what he loves, it really makes you think about what it is that we do every day and how we're spending the majority of our lives.

My weekly routine generally consists of waking up, working out for 1 hour, coming home, feeding the chickens, making the Yerba Mate (if you haven't had it, you should try it), going to work, coming home, walking the dogs 1.25 miles, making dinner, watching 1.25 hours of television, maybe enjoying 2 squares of dark chocolate or 4 ounces of wine, reading 10 pages, and going to bed. There are some rewarding peaks (lunch with a friend or a cool project) and difficult troughs, but for the most part, the swell of life is pretty consistent. Is this what life is? Maybe I am getting all sentimental in the last year of my 20's, but I feel like life is passing me by as I watch. The occasional house project, weekly yard work, and time outside is what I think about at this desk all day. While most folks sit at the lunch table here in the office, I consider my lunch break to be one hour of seldom-had completely free time, cramming as much in as possible. I have been known to go to the gym, get my oil changed, go hunting at thrift stores, go to the mall, get my nails done, even grocery shop - anything to make the time at the end of the day longer. So many people seem fine with the day-in/day-out routine, there must be something wrong with me.

As I watched BB sitting in his chair up there on stage, telling stories and 'giving hell' to the members of the Boogaloo band, I see someone who has accomplished something great. If he dies tomorrow, he should know that he has lived his life. He doesn't need to belt out his classics, one after the other, to make the crowd happy. He can sing what he wants - or not sing - and we'll still respect him for just being him. I guess this is what we should all strive for in the end - living life, right here, in the moment. In the end, you don't have to impress anyone or worry about what they think. If they want to see you, they will, and they'll respect you - just for being you.

At the end of the concert, to a crowd who stood in the first stanza, he threw us a bone and played 'The Thrill is Gone'. Well BB, I disagree, for you the thrill is still very much alive - and thanks for a great night.